iOS 6.1 Released for iPhone and iPad, Adds Minor Features and Updates

Those on LTE networks with the latest model iOS devices get better support from the new Apple update, while Passbook, iTunes Match and a few other features get a quick touch-up.

Favoring the New Boys

Hot on the heels of news of a bigger-memory iPad comes the small matter of an iOS update. Owners of the latest iPad 4 or iPhone 5 are best served by the new iOS 6.1 update with their devices now supporting LTE in a wide range of new networks in some 17 countries, with the U.S. seeing support added for Alaska Communications, Alaska GCI, Bluegrass Cellular, C Spire, Cellcom and Pioneer Cellular.

The update is compatible with iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third and fourth generation), iPad mini, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth and fifth generation), but as ever, not all features will work on all models.

The update is between 68 and 100MB depending on your device.

Siri, Talk To Me About Movies

The official list of updates includes:

LTE support for more carriers with 36 additional iPhone carriers and 23 additional iPad carriers.

Purchase movie tickets through Fandango via Siri (US only).

iTunes Match subscribers can now download individual songs from iCloud.

New button to reset the Advertising Identifier.

Users have also noticed that the Passbook app has had a bit of a makeover to make it easier to find new apps without jumping through a few hoops.While it is fantastic for U.S. customers to be able to order cinema tickets online using the Fandango service, Apple really needs to get a move on with support in other territories if these ideas are to be considered anything other than a novelty or useless by the growing majority of iPhone users.

Which brings us to what the company could possibly do for iOS 6.5 or more likely 7.0 later in the year? How long will Apple string along the basic icon system while other phone systems throw in live tiles, bigger tabs, smarter updates and other services to create a more useful environment?

With market share flattening, stock plummeting despite record sales, interest slowly waning and Apple's cool-factor fading fast, will the company bet big on something new and magical? What would you like to see in the next big iOS update?